News

Coimbatore Police Step Up Efforts to Keep College Students Away from Crime

SimpliCity News Team · 23 days ago

Coimbatore: With recent incidents involving college students and the lessons learnt from them coming under review, Coimbatore City Police have stepped up efforts to prevent violence, drug abuse and other crimes involving students through their ‘Education First’ initiative.

As part of the initiative, a review meeting of Police Liaison Officers appointed for colleges was held on September 12 under the chairmanship of Coimbatore City Police Commissioner Dr. N. Kannan. The meeting discussed precautionary measures to prevent incidents involving college students and strengthen coordination between educational institutions and the police.

The initiative is aimed at ensuring the safety and welfare of college students, protecting them from drug abuse and preventing disputes, clashes and other criminal activities from escalating.

Police Liaison Officers were instructed to remain in regular and direct contact with the managements of the colleges assigned to them and promptly gather information relating to student safety and welfare so that necessary preventive action could be taken.

The officers were also directed to identify potential disputes, clashes and group conflicts among students at an early stage, including those arising through social media, and take steps to prevent them from escalating. They were advised to work with college managements to conduct awareness programmes on issues affecting students, particularly drug abuse.

The meeting also discussed the role of Anti-Drug Clubs functioning in colleges in identifying information relating to drug abuse and other problems involving students and coordinating appropriate action with the police.

Meanwhile, colleges were advised to establish Social Media Monitoring Cells to monitor student-related issues online and share relevant information with the police when required. College authorities were also asked to monitor the entry and stay of outsiders, former students and persons with no connection to the institution in campuses and hostels, and immediately report suspicious persons to the police.

Police Liaison Officers were further instructed to monitor significant changes in student attendance, prolonged absenteeism and suspicious behaviour in coordination with college managements and pass on necessary information to the police.

The Police Commissioner said the liaison officers should remain in constant contact with the College Nodal Officer appointed by each institution, gather important information concerning students and take preventive measures based on the inputs received.

Reiterating the purpose of the initiative, police said the objective of ‘Education First’ was not to treat students as potential offenders, but to ensure that they do not become victims of crime, get involved in criminal activities, fall into drug abuse or become trapped in anti-social activities.

Deputy Commissioners of Police from the North, South and Traffic wings and Assistant Commissioners from all ranges attended the review meeting.

Coimbatore City Police Education First College Students Student Safety Drug Prevention Police Liaison Officers Dr. N. Kannan

Coimbatore Police Step Up Efforts to Keep College Students Away from Crime

Related stories